WRITTEN QUESTION E-0731/02 by Geoffrey Van Orden (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Community laws.
Date: 2002-03-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EC Directive, EC Regulation, EU law, repeal

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/205

There are now laws in all Member States granting parental leave to men also. However, owing to the
different emphasis placed on the importance of the issue, the advantages that fathers take of this leave
varies greatly from country to country.

Germany is currently working on an interesting approach to parental leave, whereby it would be possible
for both partners to take parental leave at the same time, with the additional possibilty of continuing to
work part-time for up to 30 hours per week. This avoids the problem of a drastic reduction in family
income and makes parental leave more appealing to men in particular.

Can the Commission say what measures it has taken so far to ensure EU-wide harmonisation regarding
parental leave for men?

Would it not be in Europe’s interest to support families by offering equal conditions to young mothers and
fathers for the care of their children?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(29 April 2002)

The key measure taken so far was the adoption of Council Directive 96/34/EC of 3 June 1996
implementing the framework agreement on parental
leave concluded by the Union of Industrial and
Employers’ Confederations of Europe (UNICE), the European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation
and of Enterprises of General Economic Interest (CEEP) and the European Trade Union Confederation
(ETUC) (1).

Clause 2(1) of the framework agreement grants both male and female workers ‘an individual right to
parental leave on the grounds of the birth or adoption of a child to enable them to take care of that child,
for at least three months, until a given age up to 8 years’. Point 8 of the General Considerations to the
agreement
family
responsibilities’.

that men should be ‘encouraged to assume an equal

further notes

share of

The Commission is at present examining the implementation of the Directive in the Member States and
intends to adopt a Communication on the matter later this year. The Commission shares the concerns of
the Honourable Member at the apparent low take up of parental leave by men. The Commission therefore
has chosen under its gender equality funding programme for 2002 the issue of reconciliation of work and
family life as a priority theme and has set out in its call for project proposals (2) a particular emphasis on
the participation of men in care tasks.

(1) OJ L 145, 19.6.1996.
(2) OJ C 23, 25.1.2002.

(2002/C 205 E/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0731/02

by Geoffrey Van Orden (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 March 2002)

Subject: Community laws

How many Community laws have been rescinded in each of the years 1999, 2000 and 2001?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 2002)

The term ‘Community laws’ has been interpreted as Community legislation adopted in the form of
regulations or directives. In answer to the question, the table below gives the figures for both rescinded
acts and acts which ceased to be valid during the years in question.

C 205 E/206

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

1999

Regulations

Directives

2000

Regulations

Directives

2001

Regulations

Directives

Number of texts in force on
1 January

Number of texts which ceased
to be valid during the year

Number of texts rescinded
during the year

8 212

1 973

7 275

1 900

6 453

1 824

937

73

822

76

842

62

160

55

133

34

166

29

The above data are taken from Celex, the documentary database of EU law.

(2002/C 205 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0732/02

by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 March 2002)

Subject: Cape Verde

With reference to Cape Verde, can the Commission say which projects were funded from the EU budget in
the 2000 financial year?

Can it also provide details of the total aid provided to the country under all the relevant budget headings
in 2000?

(2002/C 205 E/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0733/02

by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 March 2002)

Subject: Cape Verde

With reference to Cape Verde, can the Commission provide a list of the projects approved for funding
from the European Union’s budget for 2001 and give the total amount for investment in that year?

(2002/C 205 E/219)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0734/02

by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(15 March 2002)

Subject: Cameroon

With reference to Cameroon, can the Commission say which projects were funded from the EU budget in
the 2000 financial year?

Can it also provide details of the total aid provided to the country under all the relevant budget headings
in 2000?